U.S. patent number 4,368,937 [Application Number 06/235,215] was granted by the patent office on 1983-01-18 for overhead stowage bin mechanism.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Boeing Company. Invention is credited to Mark A. Palombo, Arthur Walkden.
United States Patent |
4,368,937 |
Palombo , et al. |
January 18, 1983 |
Overhead stowage bin mechanism
Abstract
The mechanism allows the bin to be manually moved from a stowed
position to a loading position, and requires support arms which are
mounted with self-aligning bearings for proper operation. The
bearing has three parts: an interior bin mounted needle bearing
axle unit; an exterior bin mounted nut; and an axle retainer unit
in the arm. Installation and repair are accomplished from the
interior of the bin by the turning of the bearing axle bolt which
is threaded unto the arm, and upon disconnection from the arm is
automatically gripped by a retainer washer for retention inside of
the needle housing while the bin is in its loading position and
momentarily arrested by a pin connecting both arms. Self-aligning
and linear control is accomplished by the substantially wide needle
bearing housing providing full support to the solidly mounted axle
bolt.
Inventors: |
Palombo; Mark A. (Edmonds,
WA), Walkden; Arthur (Renton, WA) |
Assignee: |
The Boeing Company (Seattle,
WA)
|
Family
ID: |
22884584 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/235,215 |
Filed: |
February 17, 1981 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/325;
296/37.7; 312/269; 403/21; 411/214; 411/339 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64D
11/003 (20130101); Y10T 403/1683 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B64D
11/00 (20060101); A47B 049/00 (); B65D 043/24 ();
F16B 039/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/325,266,269,247,326
;52/708 ;411/119,214,337,339 ;292/277 ;16/71 ;308/27R ;403/21 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
821444 |
|
Nov 1951 |
|
DE |
|
2162609 |
|
Jun 1973 |
|
DE |
|
124139 |
|
Mar 1919 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Sakran; Victor N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hughes, Barnard & Cassidy
Claims
And now, therefore, we claim:
1. In combination with a stowage bin assembly of the type
comprising a fixed supporting structure and a stowage bin having a
pair of spaced generally parallel sidewalls, said bin being
supported from said structure by first and second pivotal mounting
means with said first and second pivotal mounting means each
including (i) a first arm pivotally secured adjacent its outboard
end to said supporting structure and pivotally secured adjacent its
inboard end to the outer surface of a respective one of said spaced
generally parallel bin sidewalls, (ii) a second arm pivotally
secured adjacent its inboard end to the outer surface of said
respective one of said spaced generally parallel sidewalls at a
point spaced from and below the point of pivotal connection of said
first arm to said bin sidewall, and (iii) interconnecting means
pivotally secured to the outboard end of said second arm and to
said first arm at a point intermediate its inboard and outboard
ends whereby said first arms, second arms, interconnecting means,
and the associated bin sidewalls define a pair of four-bar linkage
assemblies interconnecting said bin to said supporting structure
with freedom for relative pivoting movement with respect thereto
about the points of pivotal connection of said outboard ends of
said first arms to said support structure between a first stowed
upper position and a second lower open accessible position
permitting of loading and/or unloading of material to be stowed in
said bin; an improved self-aligning bearing assembly means for
pivotally yet removably interconnecting the inboard ends of at
least said first arms to respective different ones of said bin
sidewalls whereby said bearing assembly means may be readily
assembled and/or disassembled from the interior of said bin so as
to permit ease of installation and/or removal of said bin from said
supporting structure, said improved self-aligning bearing assembly
means comprising: a housing mounted on the interior of each of said
bin sidewalls and extending laterally through said sidewalls, said
housings carrying needle bearing elements defining an elongated
axle hole passing through each of said bin sidewalls; an axle bolt
having a threaded end portion extending laterally and outwardly
through each of said axle holes defined by said needle bearing
elements; and, a self-locking threaded bolt mounted on the inboard
end of each of said first arms cooperating with, and removably
fastened to, the threaded portion of said axle bolt so as to form a
pair of self-aligning bearing assemblies pivotally interconnecting
the inboard ends of said first arms to the outer surfaces of
respective different ones of said bin sidewalls and permitting of
disassembly and/or reassembly of said self-aligning bearing
assemblies by unthreading and/or threading said axle bolts from
said self-locking bolts from the interior of said bin.
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said threaded
end portion of said axle bolt is an internally threaded portion and
said self-locking threaded bolt mounted on said first arm is
externally threaded and cooperable therewith.
3. The combination as set forth in claims 1 or 2 wherein said
housing includes a removable smooth cap covering the inboard end of
said axle bolt so as to prevent damage to the stowed contents
within said bin.
4. The combination as set forth in claims 1 or 2 wherein said
interconnecting means coupling the inboard ends of said second arm
to a point intermediate the opposite ends of said first arm
comprises spring cartridge means for counterbalancing the weight of
said bin and for releasably holding said bin in the down position
when said bin is open.
5. The combination as set forth in claims 1 or 2 wherein cooperable
mutually engageable abutment means are formed on said first and
second arms for limiting relative motion of said arms about their
respective pivot points.
6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein locking means
are provided for releasably locking said cooperable mutually
engageable abutment means together when said bin is in its downward
open position.
7. The combination as set forth in claims 1 or 2 wherein means are
provided for retaining said axle bolt captive within said housing
when said axle bolt is threadably disconnected from said
self-locking threaded bolt.
8. The combination as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein second
improved self-aligning bearing assembly means identical to said
first mentioned improved self-aligning bearing means are employed
to pivotally yet removably interconnect the inboard ends of said
second arms to respective different ones of said bin sidewalls
wherein said bin may be readily assembled to and/or removed from
each of said first and second arms from the interior of said bin.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an overhead stowage bin mechanism, and
more particularly to its self-aligning bearing with improved
installation and repair features.
B. Background of the Invention
The present invention is an improved mechanism to the basic
mechanism disclosed in U.S. Application Ser. No. 973,424, now U.S.
Pat. No. 4,275,942.
The present overhead stowage bin mechanism is particularly adapted
for use in passenger airplanes. Each end of the bin is supported by
a pair of pivoted arms of unequal length so proportioned that the
bin moves from its stowed position downward and slightly forward,
at the same time tilting slightly for ease of access. The arms
interengage in the down position to increase rigidity. A spring
cartridge is connected to each of the upper arms to counterbalance
the weight of the bin, and also is arranged to hold the bin in the
down position. The upper arms are interconnected by a torque tube,
and a snubbing device is also included in the mechanism. However,
the most important parts of the mechanism are the self-aligning
bearings which are employed between the bin walls and the arms. The
mechanism, according to Federal Aviation Administration
specifications, must support a 300 pound weight hanging free on the
stowage bin without signs of misalignment. Installation or removal
of a bin is very cumbersome since a bin is generally mounted in a
row of 50 or 60 bins.
In the prior art the bins were mounted to the arms outside of the
bin since the inside had to remain flush for luggage. Thus, removal
of one bin meant disconnection of the bin next to it in order to
gain access for removing arms, bearings, etc. Furthermore, such
removal required the presence of two to three repairmen.
Accordingly, the present invention has a specific bearing design
which requires only one repairman for bin installation,
dismantling, or repair.
The bearing design incorporates three main parts:
(a) a bearing axle retainer, mounted in the arm;
(b) an internal bin self-aligning needle housing with automatic
axle retention means; and
(c) an external bin flat nut which holds the housing as one unit
onto the bin wall.
The only patent of interest which was observed in the art was U.S.
Pat. No. 3,512,328 which discloses a male and a female boss
assembly associated with a fastener and wherein the bosses are
threadably interconnected so as to clamp an associated structure as
proposed.
The referenced patent shows some identical features with the
bearing axle retainer of the present invention, but fails to
disclose the axle retention means, the mounting of the
self-aligning needle housing and other specific features designed
for the bin mechanism.
Accordingly, the present invention provides for the following
advantages and improvements over the prior art:
1. The stowage bin can be replaced by one man, thus allowing a
great savings in maintenance and installation costs.
2. The stowage bin has self-aligning needle bearings which are so
designed as to prevent rocking of the bin; thus, perfect linear
control is obtained when the bin is moved from stowage to loading
position.
3. The bin material, as well as the clamping boss material, does
not require a flush surface as required in the prior art to enhance
alignment.
4. The bearing unit can be installed on bin materials of different
thicknesses without losing any of its properties and
advantages.
5. The bin can be removed or installed without disturbing adjacent
bins.
6. The internal bin bearing mountings have no hard edges for
luggage to be caught on.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improvement to an overhead stowage bin
mechanism which utilizes a pair of arms at each side of the bin and
allows the bin to be moved from a stowed to a loading position, as
is well known in the art. The present improvement resides mainly in
the bearing design which results in a self-aligning feature and a
one-man installation procedure. It will be realized that this
invention is very significant to repair operations. For example, in
a Boeing 747 commercial airplane, there may be a row of 50 bins
next to each other. Repairing one meant one had to be able to reach
inbetween the adjacent bins and thus two bins, one at each side,
had to be partly disengaged in order to repair the bin inbetween,
because the mounting mechanism is at the outside of the bin.
The herein disclosed invention provides improved alignment and
removal or installation of one bin from within the bin without
removal of adjacent bins by one person. The present self-aligning
bearing mechanism has three parts, the first part being a bearing
axle retainer. This is an externally threaded part which is
threaded into the arm and anchored permanently in place by means of
conventional deforming slots which are perpendicular to the
threads. The threaded part is concave and carries an internally
mounted threaded bolt with a self-locking feature of a
ratchet-washer arrangement. This part is a staple item. The second
part is a housing having a specifically designed width which
contains two sets of needle bearings, approximately 80 total. In
the center of the two sets of needle bearings is an axle-bolt which
is fully supported over its complete length by the needle bearings.
The axle bolt has a hollow internally threaded end which upon
installation mates and locks with the external threads of the
internally mounted threaded bolt of the axle retainer in the arm.
Furthermore, the axle bolt has a circumferentially positioned
groove at its end which serves as a stop to a spring washer which
is positioned around the axle bolt; however, the washer-stop or
axle bolt retention will only happen when the axle bolt is removed
from the axle retainer. The third part is a nut which is positioned
at the outside of the bin and serves to retain the self-aligning
needle bearing housing with retention axle bolt onto the bin.
Having thus described the features and advantages of the present
invention, other features and advantages of the bin mechanism will
become further apparent from the following description presented in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, hereinafter defined in
detail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a pair of overhead stowage bins, one in a fully opened
loading position.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the bin mechanism when the bin is in
a stowed or closed position.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the bin mechanism when the bin is in
an opened or loading position.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the bearing arrangement.
FIG. 5 is a cross section through the center of a bearing
arrangement in an installed position, as along line 5--5 of FIG.
1.
FIG. 6 is a cross section of the bearing arrangement when the axle
bolt is disconnected from the arm and becomes retained to the
bearing self-aligning needle housing.
FIG. 7 is an elevation taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the arms 20 and 22 provide for a stowed
position of the bin 24 by the locking of mechanisms 10 and 12, the
spring 26 and snubber 28 force holding the arms 20-22, mounted at
the airplane structure pivot points 36 and 38. Upon pulling the
handle 34 downwards, the bin 24 becomes unlocked from the locking
mechanism 10-12 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and stops in a slanted
loading position while the arms 20 and 22 grab each other at the
center flange 40 and the fork portion 42, which provides for a
sturdy non-rocking position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Upon
installation, dismantling, or repair by only one man, in accordance
to the present invention, it appears essential to retain the arms
in a locked position by temporarily connecting the two arms 20 and
22 by the insertion of a locking pin 44 through the holes in fork
42 and flange 40. Accordingly, a locking means is provided between
the two arms 20 and 22 at each side of the bin 24. Linear control
during bin transition from the stowed position to the loading
position is obtained by the uniquely designed self-aligning
bearings 14 and 18 which are provided with the needle bearings 50
located inside of a housing 52. Preferably two sets of needle
bearings next to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 5, are
utilized. As illustrated further, the width of the housing, which
is almost equal to the length of the axle bolt 54, provides for
proper support of the axle bolt 54 and thus forms a sturdy linear
alignment feature. The complete bearing mechanism 60 has three main
parts. The axle retainer 62, which comprises an external threaded
part with locking slots 64 which are deformed when the retainer 62
is threaded into the arm so that the retainer is permanently
positioned. Inside of retainer 62 is an externally threaded bolt 66
which has a ratchet-washer locking means (not shown) so that when
the axle bolt 54, which has an internal threaded portion 55, is
screwed onto the retainer bolt 66, the axle bolt 54 becomes mounted
and locked. Loosening by vibration or the like is prevented by the
ratchet washer locking means. This self locking feature is part of
the conventional retainer 62 which is a shelf vendor item.
A spring retention washer 68, which fits within the teflon washer
70, becomes an automatic lock or holding means to the axle bolt 54.
For instance, when the axle bolt is unfastened from an installed
position (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the washer 68 will slide over the
bolt and snap into the groove 72 on the end of the axle bolt 54.
Accordingly, the axle bolt 54 will always be retained to the needle
bearing housing 52. The unique bearing mechanism and the ability to
lock the arms 20 and 22 when the bin 24 is in the loading or folded
out position provides one man with the opportunity to install or
dismantle a bin 24 when standing at a location near the handle 34.
He can replace a damaged bin 24, remove and install the bearing
mechanism parts, all within a minimum of time compared to the
arrangement of conventional bin installations. In order to maintain
an overall smoothness in the bin 24, a cap 82 can be placed over
the axle bolt 54 head, thus a smooth housing surface 80 and cap 82
will prevent sharp interference with luggage. Furthermore, a washer
84 is located under the axle bolt 54 head in the preferred
embodiment, as illustrated in the exploded version in FIG. 4. The
third part of the bearing mechanism is the locking nut 86 which is
provided with flat flanges 88 and holes 92 for screwing the locking
nut 86 by wrench or spanner wrench to the housing 52 as illustrated
in FIG. 7. In order to hold the housing 52, which has a smooth
surface and thus presents a holding problem, a pair of holes 90
similar to holes 90 are provided.
* * * * *